Switch



J. BELL SWITCH April 7, 1936.

Filed July 51, 1934 INVENTOR JOSEPH BELL. BY g:

. IATTW rgmmm I Patented Apr. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved switch or current interrupter, and is a continuation in part of my co-pending application for Signaling device, filed July 26, 1933, Serial Number My improved switch permits the closing of one circuit with an intermittent flow of current, or closing a circuit with a continual flow of current, or closing one circuit with a continual flow of 10 current and a second. circuit with an intermittent flow of current. My improved switch is primarily useful in connection with a signaling device for automobiles as set forth in my co-pending application.

15 The principal object of my invention is to provide a switch, having a current interrupter therein, whereby two independent circuits may be alternately closed, with an interrupted'current flowing through the closed circuit, or a double o circuit may be set up with one line carrying an interrupted current and the other line carrying an uninterrupted current. Another object of my invention is to provide a current interrupter which bulges when heat is applied thereto for 25 interrupting the current by opening the switch and the retraction of the interrupter closing the switch.

A further object is to provide a member in the switch causing, the switch to open when heat is applied thereto and causing the switch to close when said member cools.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch which will be inexpensive to manufacture, install, and maintain.

My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims, and from the drawing in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved switch.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

40 Fig. 3 is a detail of the switch, taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the movable portion of the switch, taken on the section line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

45 Fig. 5 is a rear plan of the stationary portion of the switch.

Fig. 6 is a front view of the stationary portion of the switch, taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged section of the stationary 50 portion of the switch, taken on the line 1-'l of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a further section of the same, taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 5, and;

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the same.

55 In one embodiment of my invention, I preferably provide any suitable signaling lamps A, placed both at the front and rear and at each side of motor vehicle, the lamps being suitably grounded as indicated at B. The front and rear lamps on each side are connected on one circuit 5 so that one entire side of the automobile will give the same indication simultaneously. The usual battery 0 grounded at D provides electrical current through the controlling mechanism E grounded at F to operate the signaling lamps. 10

The controlling mechanism or switch is provided in any suitable casing l6 which is held in place by means of bayonet joints with slots H and pins l2. The movable portion l3 of the switch is provided with a socket M in which is placed the telltale bulb 15 to indicate whether or not the device is operating as hereinafter described. Any suitable operating lever H5 is provided securely attached to the movable member l3. On the inside of the movable member !3 is secured the contact member I! secured thereto by means of screws I8 and I9 and its inner end contacts the base of the bulb I5. The member I! is provided with contact points 20 and 2| for the purpose hereinafter described. At the lower end of the movable member I3 is secured another contact member 22 secured by means of screw 23 and having contact points 24 and 25.

The stationary portion 26 of the controlling mechanism as shown particularly in Figs. 5, 6, '7, 30 and 8 is provided with a contact post 21 to which is connected the lead wire from the battery C or any other suitable source of electrical energy. Contact posts 23 and 26 connected by strap 30 carry current to the right hand lights on the front and rear of the vehicle. Contact posts 3! and 32 connected by strap 33 carry current to the left hand lights on the front and rear of the vehicle. A spring contact tongue 34 secured at one of its ends to the contact post 35 rests on its 43 other end against the inner end of a spring contact member 36 comiected to the post 21. The members 34 and 36 have contact breaker points 31 and 38 which normally have a tendency to spring away from each other. An adjusting screw 34' engages the free end of the tongue 34 for adjusting the breaker points. An actuating member 39 of any suitable metal and of reduced section is secured at one of its ends to the contact post 35 and at its other end to .the contact post 40 so as to permit no longitudinal movement and is separated from the contact breaker points 31 and 38 by means of an insulator 4| positioned between the members 36 and 38. The

actuating member 39 is a conductor of reduced tact. Current then may flow from the battery C through 45 into the contact post 44 which seats against the contact member 22 and through the contact point 25 and post 32, strap 33, post 3| out to the front and rear left hand lights when the stop light switch 45 is closed. Thus a constant light is maintained as long as this switch 45 is closed. At the same time current flows through 44, 22, 24, 29, 30 and 28 into the rightfrontand rear lights causing a constant light as long as the stop light switch is closed.

When it is desired to make a right hand turn with the vehicle the lever I6 is rotated to the right and the contact points 24 and 25 seat against the contact posts 44 and 3| respectively (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.) .The contact points 29 and 2| seat against the contact posts 28 and 42 respectively (as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 9.) Current then flows from the battery C into the contact post 21, contact tongue 34, post 35, actuating member 39, post 40, strap 43, post 42, contact point 2|, contact point 20, post 23 and thence to the right hand lights. As current flows through the actuating member 39 of reduced cross-section it heats the member causing it to expand and bulge.

Since this member is secured at both of its ends it cannot expand longitudinally and therefore bulges outwardly to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 permitting the spring contact member 36 to spring away from tongue 34 and breaking the contact between the contact points 31' and 38, thus breaking its contact with post 21. Consequently the right hand lights in the front and rear will immediately go ofl since the circuit has been broken. After the actuating member retracts back to its normal position again pressing the contact breaker points 31 and 33 together closing the circuit and again lighting the right hand lights. After an instant the actuating member 39 again becomes heated and expands and bulges and the same operation is repeated over and over causing a constant flickering of the signaling member until the lever i6 is returned to its normal upright or oiT position. While the switch is in the right hand position just previously described and with the stop light switch 45 closed, current flows from the battery C into the contact post 44, the contact point 24, the contact member 22, contact point 25, contact post 3| and into the left hand lights causing a constant light on the left as long as the stop light switch is closed. Consequently a stop light signal may be given on one side of the car while a turn is being indicated on the other side of the car by a constant flickering.

When a left hand turn is to be made the lever I6 is rotated to the left to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Current then flows from the battery C through the contact post 21, contact arm 36, cofitact tongue 34, actuating member 39, post 40, strap 43, post 42, contact point 20,

contact member i1, contact point 2 I, contact post 3| and thence to the left hand front and rear lights. Heating of the member 39 causes a, flickering of the left hand lights as described in the previous similar right hand operation. At the same time current flows from the battery C through the stop light switch 45 when closed, into the contact post 44, contact point 25, member 22, contact point 24, contact post 23 and thence to the right hand lights causing a constant light as long as the switch 45 remains closed.

When the operating lever I9 is in of! position no current flows through the member I! into the telltale bulb i8 and it remains unlighted. When a turn is being made either to the right or left, current is flowing through the member l1 into the bulb 5 causing the same flickering as takes place in the signaling lamps and indicating to the driver of the vehicle whether or not his turn is being indicated as desired. If a bulb burns out in one of the signaling lamps, current insufficient to cause expansion and bulging of the actuating member 39 flows through the circuit and the telltale bulb will remain lighted constantly as long as the lever is in a right hand or left hand position. If any of the conductors or the ground connection becomes broken between the controlling member and any of the signaling lamps, current insuiilcient to cause expansion and bulging cf the actuating member 39 will flow through the circuit and the telltale bulb will remain constantly lighted without flickering. If the telltale bulb burns out or a lead wire from the battery to the controlling member becomes broken the telltale bulb will not light at all.

It can readily be seen that the same current carried through the same electrical circuit for lighting the signal lamps is utilized for causing a flickering signal. This is accomplished entirely by using a part of the feed conductor of reduced cross-section which is provided to carry the current to the signaling lamps to automatically open and close the switch, and no other parts are necessary to accomplish this function.

While I have shown and described my improved switch in connection with a signaling system, I do not wish to limit it to such use. The switch may be used in any arrangement whereby it is desired to cause an intermittent current to flow through a given circuit controlled by the heat applied to the interrupter or controlled by the current passing therethrough.

While the invention has been described above in its preferred form, it will be obvious that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and it is therefore desired that only such limitations be imposed thereon as are liecessitated by the prior art or specifically set forth in the claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a switch, a plurality 01 contact points, a movable member for connecting pairs of said contact points, an element having its ends held in fixed position in the circuit to said switch and adapted to bulge at a predetermined degree of heat and means responsive to the bulging of said element for breaking an electric circuit.

2. In a switch, a plurality of contact points, a pair of movable members for connecting pairs of said contactpoints, an element having its ends held in fixed position in the circuit to said switch and adapted to bulge when a predetermined amount of current passes therethrough s,os0,070

and means responsive to the bulging of said element ior breaking the electric circuit.

3. In a switch, a plurality 01' contact points, a pair 01 movable members for connecting pairs of said contact points, a current interrupter having its ends held in fixed position and forming a connection with a pair of said contact points, said current interrupter comprising an element which will bulge outwardly when a predetermined amount 01' current passes therethrough and means responsive to the bulging of said element for breaking the electric circuit.

4. A switch having a neutral position and two selectively settable positions. a current interrupter having its ends held in fixed position and being responsive to said settable positions of said switch, said interrupter comprising a bulging element for making and breaking the connection oi! said settable positions.

5. In a switch, a fixed member having a pinrality of contact points, a movable member provided with contacts for connecting pairs of said contact points, a current interrupter having its ends held in fixed position on said stationary member and having a connection with one of .said contact points, said current interrupter adapted to bulge when a'predetermined amount oi current therethrough for breaking the circuit set up through said contact point connected to said interrupter.

6. A switch comprising a housing, a fixed member in said housing having a plurality of contact points, a rotatable member in said housing having pairs of contact members movable into registry with pairs of contact points for setting up a pair of electrical circuits, a current interrupter having connection with one of said contact points and comprising a strip having its ends held in fixed position being adapted to bulge when a predetermined amount of current passes therethrough for breaking the electrical circuit through said contact point.

' JOSEPH BELL. 

